Monday, September 15, 2014

In a land of over 300
million people you can find some pretty odd obsessions.That probably goes without saying, but
actor-turned-documentary filmmaker Tommy Avallone has found one “calling” that
can be all-things from funny to sad, to passionate or just plain whimsical.

His film, I Am
Santa Claus — arriving on DVD this coming Nov. 4 from Virgil Films
& Entertainment — takes a very personal look at mall Santas over the course
of one full year.You see them decked
out in red with their beards and “ho ho ho” personas during the Christmas
season … but where do they go and what do they do when it’s “off season.”

Mall Santas, as we
discover, come from all walks of life.From WWE super star Mick Foley to the likes of Russell Spice, who got so
caught up in the persona of being Santa Claus that he destroyed his married,
lost his home and only snaps out of his year-long bouts of depression when he
dons the suit and hears the Christmas wishes of others.

In I Am Santa Claus you
learn that there are factions, political groups, competing organizations and
even one fellow (and probably more) who has legally changed his name to Santa
Claus!!!Always fascinating!

Yes, they mow their lawns
in the summer, go about their hum-drum jobs throughout the year, but there is
always one eye on the calendar for that special time of the year when they can
be Santa!